Although almost a month ago YSRCP has announced names of its candidates for all constituencies in the state, ahead of the nomination process confusion prevails in the party circles over speculations on change of candidates in few segments.
More particularly, speculations are high on the change of its candidate for Kadapa Lok Sabha, from where sitty MP and cousin brother of chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, YS Avinash Reddy is contesting.
Ahead of the election schedule, YCP announced candidates in 175 Assembly and 24 Parliament constituencies. After that, with the announcement of another Lok Sabha candidate, YSRCP candidates started campaigning in all the constituencies.
However, since a week a list has been circulating on social media suggesting change of candidates in four to five constituencies, mostly in the combined Krishna and Guntur districts.
On March 16, the final list of YCP MLA and MP candidates was announced in Idupulapaya by the Chief Minister himself. However, after TDP, Jana Sena and BJP together finalised their candidates, insecurity is haunting among YCP candidates at several places.
Meanwhile, with the announcement of YS Jagan’s sister and APCC president YS Sharmila that she is contesting for Kadapa Lok Sabha, YCP circles are worried. As YCP candidate YS Avinash Reddy is named as accused by the CBI in former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy’s murder, Sharmila announced that she is fighting against `politics of murder’.
Moreover, Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter Dr Sunitha Reddy also swung into action in support of Sharmila, demanding justice in her father’s murder case. As they are making all out efforts to make Vivekananda Reddy’s murder an election issue, which caused severe damage to the TDP in 2019 polls.
The YCP leadership is said to be reviewing their strategies in Kadapa and proposing to replace Avinash Reddy with his brother Abhishek Reddy.
However, AP Government advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy dismissed the social media campaign about the change of YCP candidates. Asserting that they have scientifically selected the candidates and are going to the elections after convincing everyone, he said there is no question of any changes among candidates.
